The Big Star stores, located in the Louisiana towns of Many, Zwolle, Mansfield and Toledo Town, will be converted to the Market Basket banner shortly, Thompson said. The additions grow the Market Basket chain to 35 stores in Southeastern Texas and Southwestern Louisiana. Big Star stores, formerly supplied by Associated Grocers of Louisiana, are now being supplied by Market Basket’s supplier, Grocers Supply of Houston.

Thompson described Big Star as a good strategic and philosophic fit to grow the Market Basket chain. He said its former owner, John Curtis, approached Market Basket about a sale, which was completed in early December but not announced until last week.

“We operate very similarly,” he said. “We’re both very involved in community affairs, we’re both very employee-oriented, and we operate in adjacent marketing areas.”

Thompson said Market Basket lowered hundreds of prices at the stores with the switch.